A long, demanding circuit of the Khumbu over the Kongma La, Cho La and Renjo La, all above 5,300 m, taking in Everest Base Camp, Kala Patthar, the Gokyo Lakes and the Thame valley.
- Days
- 19 days
- Maximum altitude
- 5,644 m
- Difficulty
- Challenging
Everest Region (Khumbu)थाग्नाक
Thagnak
A few lodges on the east edge of the Ngozumpa Glacier, the western end of the Cho La crossing.
- Altitude
- 4,700 m
- Best months
- Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Type
- Trek stop
- District
- Solukhumbu, Koshi
- Permit
- Permit required
Higher seasonal exposure: altitude (All year), snow (Dec-Mar), cold (Nov-Mar), seasonal closure (Jun-Sep).
Why go
Thagnak, also written Dragnag or Thangnak, is a small lodge stop at about 4,700 m on the east side of the Ngozumpa Glacier, facing Gokyo across the ice. Within the Everest region it is where trekkers sleep after crossing the Cho La from Dzongla, or before crossing it when coming from Gokyo.
From Thagnak to Gokyo is a short but rough walk of about 2-3 hours, crossing the rubble-covered Ngozumpa Glacier on a path marked by cairns that shifts as the ice moves. The lodges sit in a sheltered hollow below Cholatse's western spurs, with views of the glacier and the peaks above Gokyo.
History and culture
Thagnak was a summer grazing site for yak herders, like most high settlements in Khumbu, and its lodges developed with the Cho La crossing. Spellings differ widely between maps and signboards, a common situation for Sherpa place names written in English and Nepali.
Things to do in Thagnak
Cross the Ngozumpa Glacier
Follow the cairned path over the moraine to Gokyo, about 2-3 hours; the route changes year to year.
Walk the moraine ridge
The lateral moraine near the lodges gives a view up and down the glacier.
Weather and the best time to visit Thagnak
Weather in Thagnak
Forecast for 4,700 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Jan
- Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- Good month: May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November usually bring the clearest skies and stable weather, with cold nights well below freezing.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is very cold, with snow possible on the trail; some lodges close and the high passes can be impassable.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March to May is warmer and busy, with more afternoon cloud; late spring brings expedition traffic towards base camp.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August brings cloud and rain, poor mountain views and frequent delays on the Lukla flights; few lodges stay fully open.
Where to stay
LodgesTeahouses
A few basic lodges; space can be short in peak season.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Thagnak is reached on foot from Dzongla over the Cho La, or from Gokyo across the glacier.
Nearest hub: Lukla (Tenzing-Hillary Airport)
- flightKathmandu or Ramechhap (Manthali) to Lukla, roughly 25-40 minutes, weather permitting; in busy seasons many flights leave from Ramechhap.
- trekDzongla to Thagnak over the Cho La, about 7-9 hours; Gokyo to Thagnak across the Ngozumpa Glacier, about 2-3 hours.
Getting to Thagnak, by mode
Nearest hub: Lukla. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
By airfrom Kathmanduabout 0.4-0.7 hLukla (Tenzing-Hillary)often delayed or cancelled by weather
A 25-40 minute mountain flight to Lukla, weather permitting, then the walk in. In the busy seasons most flights leave from Ramechhap (Manthali) instead of Kathmandu, a 3-4 hour drive east, which means a night-time road transfer. Cancellations for wind and visibility are routine, so spare days belong in the plan.
When to set off: Lukla flights are scheduled at first light, before the south-west wind builds from mid to late morning; Ramechhap departures leave Kathmandu by road around 03:00-04:00
On footfrom Gokyo Lakesabout 2-3 h2-3 h from Gokyo across the Ngozumpa Glacier; or 7-9 h from Dzongla over the Cho La
A handful of lodges used as the staging point on either side of the Cho La.
When to set off: teahouse stages start after breakfast, usually by 07:30, to arrive before the afternoon cloud and wind
Where people go next
- Cho Laon foot, about 3-4 hEast up to the pass for Dzongla.
- Gokyo Lakeson foot, about 2-3 hWest back across the glacier to Gokyo.
- Dzonglaon foot, about 7-9 hOver the Cho La to Dzongla in one long day.
Permits and fees
Permit required
This stop is inside Sagarmatha National Park; the park entry permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit apply. Check whether a TIMS card is currently required.
- Sagarmatha National Park entry permit: Issued in Kathmandu or at the park entrance near Monjo; check the latest rules and fees.
- Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry permit: Local permit collected in the Lukla area.
- Licensed guide: Since April 2023 foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas are generally required to go with a licensed guide; the local municipality in Khumbu has disputed this, so check the current rule.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
On the trail
On the Three High Passes trek, Gokyo and Everest Base Camp via Cho La.
- Previous stop:
- Dzongla via the Cho La
- Next stop:
- Gokyo
- A typical day:
- Arrival after a 7-9 hour crossing of the Cho La, ending with a steep rocky descent.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Thagnak
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Altitudehigh in a typical yearAll year
Thagnak sits at about 4,700-4,750 m between the Ngozumpa Glacier and the Cho La. Acute mountain sickness is common on fast ascents - it affects roughly 40 per cent of people who go up quickly to 3,000 m, and more above that. General information, not medical advice: gain height slowly, keep sleeping-height gains small (about 300 m a day once high), build in rest days, learn the symptoms - headache, nausea, breathlessness, broken sleep - and descend if they get worse. See a doctor before travelling and carry insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Snowhigh in a typical yearDec-Mar
Deep winter snow can block the trails above Tengboche, and spring storms leave fresh snow on the higher stages; December to March is the usual snow window at this height.
Coldhigh in a typical yearNov-Mar
Nights are far below freezing from November to March at this height, with wind on the open moraine and unheated bedrooms in the teahouses; a winter-rated sleeping bag and down layer are the norm.
Seasonal closurehigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
Lukla flights are the weak link in the monsoon: poor visibility stops operations at the airstrip about half the time in that season and about half of flights are cancelled, and waits of several days happen. Any itinerary built on the flight needs spare days at both ends.
Seasonal closuremoderate in a typical yearDec-Feb
Above Tengboche many teahouses do not stay open through the deep-winter months, so the high stages are seldom walked in December to February and food and beds are harder to find.
Othermoderate in a typical yearAll year
Both ways out cross ice or loose moraine: the Ngozumpa Glacier to Gokyo, and the Cho La to the east, where crampons are sometimes needed on the small glacier at the top. Parties ask for information on the state of the route before setting out.
Otherlow in a typical yearJun-Aug
The monsoon brings cloud and rain rather than views, and the stages are wet and misty underfoot, although the upper valleys get less rain than the forest below.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
Practical tips
- This is high altitude: go up slowly, watch for headache, nausea and unusual tiredness, and descend if symptoms get worse. General information, not medical advice.
- Ask locally about the current line across the glacier to Gokyo.
- There is no ATM; carry enough Nepali rupees from Kathmandu, Lukla or Namche.
- Charging, hot showers and Wi-Fi, where available, are paid extras and depend on solar or small hydro power.
Treks through Thagnak
Questions about Thagnak
Is Thagnak the same as Dragnag?
Yes. The same stop appears as Thagnak, Thangnak, Dragnag or Dragnak on different maps.
How far is Thagnak from Gokyo?
About 2-3 hours across the Ngozumpa Glacier on a cairned path.
How high is Thagnak?
About 4,700 m.
More in Everest Region (Khumbu)
All of Everest Region (Khumbu)Lake · 4,750 m
Gokyo Lakes
A chain of glacier-fed lakes beside the Ngozumpa glacier, with views of Everest and Cho Oyu from the hill of Gokyo Ri.
Viewpoint · 5,644 m
Kala Patthar
A dark ridge-top viewpoint above Gorak Shep with a close view of Everest, Nuptse and the Khumbu Glacier.
Viewpoint · 4,065 m
Pikey Peak
A grassy 4,065 m summit in lower Solukhumbu with a long view of the eastern Himalaya, reached on a short trek through Sherpa villages.
Trek stop · 4,730 m
Chhukung
A high lodge settlement at the head of the Imja valley, below Lhotse's south face and Island Peak.
Mountain pass · 5,420 m
Cho La
A glaciated pass linking the Everest Base Camp trail with the Gokyo valley, crossed between Dzongla and Thagnak.
Trek stop · 4,410 m
Dingboche
A walled-field Sherpa village in the Imja valley, the usual acclimatisation stop on the way to Everest Base Camp.
Trek stop · 4,038 m
Dole
A small lodge village in the upper Dudh Kosi valley, the first night above Namche on the way to Gokyo.
Trek stop · 4,830 m
Dzongla
A tiny lodge stop on a high pasture below Cholatse, the eastern base for crossing the Cho La.
Nearby
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Dragnag, OpenStreetMap, Gokyo Lakes, Wikipedia